A Hull man sadly died of "catastrophic" blood loss after injecting heroin into his groin, just weeks after doctors warned him he would lose his life if did so.

An inquest heard that Dean Mark Platten, 44, of Salters Court, Hull city centre, died at home on July 12, 2018. He was tragically found by his worried parents, who made a visit to his flat after they had called and text their son multiple times but to no avail.

Mr Platten, who was born in North Ferriby, had been a heroin user since the age of 18, and first started using cannabis, amphetamines and ecstasy at just 15 years old.

He worked at Willerby caravan manufacturing firm after leaving school, but had to give up work in 2003 after an accident on a dirt bike left him with problems in his legs.

Hull Coroner's Court (Image: Rob Stebbing)

As a result of constant heroin and amphetamine injections over the years, Mr Platten developed Hepatitis C, deep vein thrombosis, leg ulcers and cellulitis.

On June 29, Mr Platten went with a friend to Hull Royal Infirmary after injecting in his groin, which led to a rupture of his femoral artery. The inquest at Hull Coroner's Court heard he lost more than two litres of blood and needed a blood transfusion and an operation to recover.

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After the procedure, Mr Platten was told by his doctor he would die if he injected in his groin again because of the damage his vein had been put under.

But tragically, less than a fortnight later, Mr Platten went against medical advice and injected again, causing his femoral artery to burst from the trauma of the needle and he died.

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The court heard that Mr Platten's family were unaware of his drug use over the years. A statement from his mother said she and his dad only became aware their son was a heroin user after he was admitted to hospital in June last year.

"I last spoke to Dean on the afternoon of July 11, when England were playing Croatia in the World Cup," she said in a statement read out to the court.

"He said he was weak and drained, but had been for weeks after his leg problems due to heroin use.

(Image: Getty)

"The next day we called him at least four times and text to check up on him, but got no answer, so me and his dad took the spare key to his flat, and that was where we found him on his back in the living room laying in a pool of blood.

"He wasn't breathing and I just knew he was dead, and that was when we rung the ambulance.

"Dean was one of our two children and at school he was a smashing lad who never got in any serious trouble, and over the years the four of us enjoyed family holidays.

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"He worked at Willerby Caravans for 15 years after he left school, but then 15 years ago he had a dirtbike injury when he was out with friends and hurt his legs, which meant he had to resign as his legs were sore and weeping all the time."

She said after a short spell in prison they "suspected" he was taking drugs but did not find any signs when they visited him.

"On June 1 2018, Dean moved to a ground floor flat in Salters Court, and later in the month we visited him to find that he was not well, had an injured head where he had fallen, blood on his shirt, and he was very lethargic.

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